Food Intelligence King

Chapter 69 A Glorious Era
It was still raining the next day.

Chen Zhou had already discussed with Lao Zhang about reducing the amount of meat they would make that day, and they hadn't even made any vegetarian buns. He planned to close the shop once they sold out.

As for his junior sister, Chen Zhou had told her in the group chat that it was raining heavily and there wouldn't be much business, so it was fine if she didn't come today.

But she also truly loves going to work, taking the first subway train there.

Ms. Lin saw the message in the group chat, woke up Chen Taotao, and even picked her up at the subway entrance together.

It's just a short distance between two neighborhoods, so the roads won't be difficult to navigate.

The little girl woke up a bit earlier than usual today, but she didn't seem unhappy about it.

Perhaps Ms. Lin's advice yesterday had an effect.

Perhaps she really likes Sister Zhao.

After all, unless her father deliberately lets her win, Chen Taotao has a hard time beating Chen Zhou. Only with Sister Zhao can she find a worthy opponent.

However, because Ms. Lin brought her junior sister over, all four of them had a "nutritious and healthy" mixed salad added to their breakfast.

Chen Taotao nodded to Zhao Yilin, and the two understood each other perfectly.

They all reached out and grabbed the steamed buns.

Ms. Lin had to take her child to school and go to work herself, so she urged them a couple of times: "You two hurry up and eat! I'm going to work soon."

"Oh."

"Click, click, click."

Both the young girls and the older girls are very well-behaved.

The raincoats provided for rainy days were only somewhat useful yesterday. Today, hardly anyone took them.

It rains as soon as you go out, so everyone knows to bring an umbrella.

In the residents' group chat, praise for the small shop owner was generous. Customers could truly feel the warmth in these small gestures.

Chen Zhou felt gratified.

The cost of a raincoat is actually very low; it's almost a simple task that can improve the dining experience for customers.

However, although he did jokingly ask Captain Wang to return the raincoat yesterday, that only applied to Wang Meng. Chen Zhou hadn't asked any of his other customers or friends to do so.

But this morning, someone actually returned the raincoat.

It's the auntie who brought her grandson out to eat yesterday.

This time, when she came over with an umbrella, she had folded her raincoat neatly.

"Thank you!"

"You're welcome. Please take it and use it."

There weren't many people in the store, so Chen Zhou started chatting with the woman.

The auntie couldn't help but praise the steamed buns a few more times.

Chen Zhou smiled:

“Auntie, I can tell at a glance that you used to work at the steamed bun shop.”

"Yes!" Auntie said happily.

"How did you figure that out! I worked there for ten years! Later, the boss made money and squandered it, and the shop went bankrupt."

That's right, it's you.

Then, Aunt Zheng Xiufang began to recount the story vividly:
The restaurant owner's rise and fall –

That boss wasn't originally in the catering business; he had to find another way to make a living due to the wave of layoffs from state-owned enterprises.

So he started selling soup dumplings at a street stall, and eventually opened a husband-and-wife shop.

The couple gradually expanded their business, starting from a roadside stall, then renting a storefront, and eventually running several large restaurants, including steamed bun shops, as well as restaurants serving local cuisine, hot pot, and other regional dishes.

Back then, it was truly a glorious time.

But the temptations are endless.

The boss made some money and made a few friends. He then went to places like Pujiang and squandered his fortune, losing everything.

He ended up with his wife and children separated from him.
Although Aunt Zheng is getting old and hasn't personally experienced these storms, her experiences speak for themselves.

So, when the boss eventually lost his wife and children...
It's like talking about how your family's wheat harvest wasn't very good.

Chen Zhou, however, sighed upon hearing this.

He was so immersive.

Isn't this just like me, except I've replaced the soup dumplings with pork dumplings?

At this moment, the junior sister asked curiously, "There used to be a Pujiang Entertainment City, right? I often heard about 'New Pujiang' and stuff like that." "I don't remember very well," Aunt Zheng answered Zhao Yilin's question honestly, then said with a hint of anger:

"They opened a new store later? Those bastards are doing pretty well."

Chen Zhou listened to their conversation, his brows furrowing deeply.

He said to his junior sister:
"What kind of nonsense are you looking at all day, you're just a young girl?"

"I'm watching TV series. The really popular xxx is almost over, and I feel like it's going to have a terrible ending. Why are American TV series always like this? They start off amazing, but then it gets worse and worse. I watched it before..."

The junior sister started chattering away again.

Chen Zhou was relieved after hearing this, but given the atmosphere, he could only continue:

"Don't trust those entertainment venues!"

“I usually skip it,” the junior sister said proudly. “Besides, I’m not a three- or two-year-old child.”

She interrupted.

Chen Zhou also emerged from the story he had just heard.

He asked Aunt Zheng:

"Auntie, is Bianliang famous for its soup dumplings?"

Zheng Xiufang nodded, "Yes, I make soup dumplings. I've been making dumplings for seven or eight years."

"Are there any special techniques for making soup dumplings? How are they different from the dumplings in our shop?"

Knowing that the original store had gone out of business, Chen Zhou felt relieved and began to inquire.

Aunt Zheng said modestly:

"Nothing special, just like the steamed buns you make. It's just unleavened dough and watery filling."

She initially thought Chen Zhou was just asking casually.

So my initial answer was just something I said offhand.

But to my surprise, the other person listened quite attentively, and even the little girl next to them seemed very interested.

So he took the initiative to explain to the two of them in detail: "When kneading the dough, the filling is... and remember to steam the buns..."

The aunt who made the steamed buns explained the original method in its entirety.

There's a rhyme about eating steamed buns, which my aunt explained very clearly:

"Lift gently and move slowly."

"Open the window first, then drink the soup."

"Sweep it all up, and your mouth will be filled with fragrance."

Besides learning how to cook, Chen Zhou also learned a catchy rhyme.

Of course, given his current level of expertise, he doesn't need to teach you step by step anymore. Especially since it's the type of steamed buns he's most skilled and proficient in.

After Aunt Zheng explained it to him in detail, Chen Zhou already had a clear understanding of the situation.

Aunt Zheng actually thinks the steamed buns at Chen Zhou's shop taste quite good.

"Young man, your steamed buns are made with professional skill."

Zhao Yilin replied, "My senior brother practiced every day back then!"

"You all became apprentices together to learn from a master?"

The two of them would always veer off-topic when they started talking.

Finally, Chen Zhou extended an invitation to Aunt Zheng:
"Auntie, would you be interested in helping out at my shop or something? Just doing what you can to help out."

Now it's Aunt Zheng's turn to have a headache.

She can talk about her former boss with ease. But her relationship with her daughter-in-law is a real challenge.

"Oh dear," Aunt Zheng sighed.

"I'll have to go back to my hometown once my grandson starts school."

"If you want to come, and you encounter any difficulties, we can help you figure out a solution." That was all Chen Zhou could say.

Aunt Zheng felt a strong connection with the two young people working in the shop. She also found the owner quite agreeable.

She's still in pretty good health. But her current family situation really doesn't allow her to go back to work.

He only left Chen Zhou with one sentence:
“It’s not easy for you sons and husbands either, being caught in the middle.”

(End of this chapter)